Illinois looks to rebound vs. Missouri

Illinois basketball fell hard to UIC. Now the Illini get a chance for a big win to bury the bad loss.

John Supinie

It's a high school sectional championship on steriods, a Christmas party with live entertainment.

The atmosphere is like nothing else in the regular season. A crowd split down the middle, with orange and blue on one side and black and gold at the other end. Two pep bands, often playing at the same time. A rivalry built over 29 years of play in a neutral site game given a boost from the resurgence of two teams.

When No. 21 Illinois faces No. 9 Missouri Wednesday in the annual border war just down the street from the Gateway Arch, the game features the first matchup in the college basketball season between 10-game winners and the first meeting between ranked teams in this series in seven years. It's also the first chance for the Illini to take a step forward after a humbling loss to Illinois-Chicago Saturday.

"(The UIC) game doesn't matter any more,'' said Illini senior Bill Cole. "What matters is our mindset against Missouri. If we get a win there, that's a great win. That was a bad loss (to UIC), but we've got opportunities to get good wins in the future. We're looking forward, not looking back.''

A loss to Missouri would likely drop the Illini out of the top 25 prior to the Big Ten opener at Iowa on Dec. 29, so the reward for a win is much bigger than the Braggin' Rights trophy that's 4 feet tall.

"It’s a great setup game for us, to put us back on the right track,'' Cole said. "I wouldn’t (want to) play anyone else. We have a chance to prove last week was a fluke.

"We messed up. We’re all aware of that. There’s nothing we can do to get that one back. But we can go out and beat a top 10 team and get our respect back.''

After hitting a speed bump at the United Center Saturday, Illinois faces the toughest challenge thus far. Missouri's chaotic, uptempo style will test the Illini, who may go deeper into the bench if the starters struggle like they did over the weekend against the Flames. Missouri's aggressive play will also challenge the Illini's toughness, or lack of it.

Missouri coach Mike Anderson is a product of the Nolan Richardson coaching tree, preaching the same 40 minutes of Hell as his former boss. In an 81-68 loss last season that ended a nine-game winning streak over the Tigers, Illinois lost a season-high 22 turnovers.

"It's toughness, mental toughness,'' Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. "They come at you all the time. When you want to relax, they come at you. I hope we come out with energy and really compete.''

The Illini were trying everything in practice to simulate the Missouri pressure.

"He had us going 5-on-6, 5-on-7 trying to break the press,'' said Illini reserve forward Tyler Griffey, a native of suburban St. Louis who turned down an offer from Missouri. "You can't match their pressure in a practice environment.''

The key is controlling the pace of the game, something the Illini did two years ago with experienced guards Chester Frazier and Trent Meacham, Weber said.

"(They) were smart, knowing when to go and knowing when not to go,'' Weber said. "We frustrated them. We didn't play at their pace.

"They're going to make shots and turn you over sometimes. You can't let them get on big runs with five of six threes in a row or five or six turnovers in a row. ''

By forcing more of a half-court game, the Illini could have the advantage. Another backstory to the game -- and perhaps the rest of the season -- is how Weber uses the bench.

Weber hoped guard Brandon Paul would be able to play after missing two days of practice and going through about half of the team's workout Tuesday in St. Louis after spraining his left ankle against UIC. If he plays, Paul won't be 100 percent just as a time when the Illini could use more ballhandlers. Senior Demetri McCamey might be a marathon man, playing all 40 minutes. If so, does he have the energy to play at both ends?

Freshman guard Crandall Head logged 8 minutes over the last five games, so it will be a culture shock if he gets anything more than his season-high 8 minutes. Meanwhile, Griffey and freshman center Meyers Leonard stand to see more time if seniors Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale struggle again like they did against UIC.

Missouri doesn't have the same personnel problems at guard despite losing freshman Paul Pressey to a broken finger, because sophomore point guard Michael Dixon will play after missing the last two games for a violation of team rules, play-by-play announcer Mike Kelly reported Monday.